Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics out on Wednesday showed new vehicle sales rose 2.2 per cent in December to a seasonally adjusted 98,264. That was also the highest monthly total on record and a hefty 17.9 per cent higher than in December 2011.

Sales of sports utility vehicles extended their barnstorming run with a rise of 5.8 per cent in December to 26,502, an increase of 17 per cent for the year.

Sales of passenger vehicles rose 1.2 per cent in December, while sales of other vehicles, including trucks, edged up by 0.2 per cent.

Industry data out earlier in the month showed new vehicle sales up 15.7 per cent compared to December 2011.

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For December alone, Toyota retained first place on the sales ladder with 22.2 per cent of the market. Mazda climbed to second spot with 10.0 per cent, overtaking the Holden unit of General Motors with 9.1 per cent.

Hyundai moved up to fourth with 8.1 per cent, while Ford dropped back a place with 8.0 per cent.

For all of 2012, Toyota again led with 19.6 per cent of the market. Holden came second, but its share declined by over two percentage points to 10.3 per cent. Mazda took third spot, while Ford fell two spots to fifth on the sales table.